GameStick, the connected TV gaming device funded by Kickstarter, has today started pre-orders ahead of its global retail launch in the spring. Billed as "the world's most portable TV games console", the GameStick is a flash drive that plugs into a television's HDMI socket and then can run around 200 Android games on the big screen. It comes with a specially-designed Bluetooth controller that can house the flash drive for portability. Studios including Relentless Software, First Star Software and Disney are providing software for its purpose-built GameStick store. Customers can now pre-order the GameStick online, and pre-ordered devices will ship after the initial run of orders to Kickstarter backers in April. The standard GameStick bundle is listed at $79 (£51), with a special case and a dock available at $9.99 and $24.99 respectively. Led by connected TV specialists PlayJam, GameStick attracted $647,658 (£412,147) in its Kickstarter funding drive in late January, smashing its $100,000 (£63,637) target. "January was a pivotal month for GameStick; the success of the Kickstarter campaign ensured that we could bring the device to life," said Anthony Johnson, the chief marketing officer at PlayJam. "Since the campaign closed, we have received thousands of e-mails from individuals keen to ensure they remain one of the first to receive the product. "By continuing to offer GameStick on pre-order, we will be able to maintain momentum ahead of our planned retail activity."
